Charlotte Motor Speedway news 2010-02-03

Drivers Buzzing about Running Four-Wide at zMAX Dragway
CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 3, 2009) - Perhaps NHRA president Tom Compton
said it best at the official announcement on Jan. 21, when he told everyone
in attendance, "Once again, the NHRA is making...

Drivers Buzzing about Running Four-Wide at zMAX Dragway

CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 3, 2009) - Perhaps NHRA president Tom Compton
said it best at the official announcement on Jan. 21, when he told everyone
in attendance, "Once again, the NHRA is making history at zMAX Dragway. It's
certainly going to be spectacular to see."

Compton was making reference to the new format that he, alongside
Speedway Motorsports Chairman Bruton Smith, announced for the inaugural NHRA
Four-Wide Nationals March 25-28 at the Bellagio of drag strips. For the
first time in NHRA history, all four professional classes will race
four-wide for all qualifying sessions and eliminations.

The announcement created a buzz like never before among NHRA drivers
who were quick to respond with excitement and anticipation for what promises
to be a landmark event.

"It's going to be exciting. You're talking over 30,000 horsepower at
one time. You're talking over 1,200 mph out there on that race track."

Force participated in the first modern day, four-wide exhibition
race at the second annual NHRA Carolinas Nationals last September at zMAX
Dragway. Mike Neff, Force's teammate, won the exhibition, but it was Force
who couldn't contain himself in the media center after the race.

"Let me tell you, I embarrassed myself at the press conference,"
Force continued. "We came right back in to talk about what had taken place.
When I drove this four-lane race, I ran in here and I was like Tom Cruise on
Oprah, jumping up and down, screaming. Everyone said, 'He went nuts,'
because it was that exciting and thrilling."

"The whole thing was a gigantic hit with the fans, and it was fun to
be a part of it," Wilkerson said. "Side-by-side Funny Car racing is pretty
impressive on any track, but going four-wide just doubles everything up, and
it's kind of hard to believe. Maybe somebody ought to talk to Doublemint gum
about this. You know the old slogan, 'Double your pleasure, double your
fun.' This is going to be a pretty historic deal, and it's just another
example of how innovative Bruton Smith is, when it comes to promoting the
sport."

When the Top Fuel dragsters went four wide in September, one of
NHRA's brightest stars, Antron Brown, turned in a surprisingly competitive
pass from lane four, one of the lanes that wasn't used during regular
competition. Brown, who now drives the Matco Tools Dragster for Don
Schumacher Racing also shares the sentiment of his nitro methane brethren.

"When we go to zMAX Dragway and NHRA gets there and lines everything
out, they will take all the variables out," Brown said. "This is just going
to be another challenge along the road as we try to get to the Countdown. I
never saw the day coming that we would have four-wide drag racing, but I'm
glad to be a part of it. This is definitely going to take our sport to the
next level."

Top Fuel pilot Doug Herbert had a strong showing last year in the
NHRA Carolinas Nationals and brought his dragster down to zMAX Dragway to
participate in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals announcement two weeks ago. The
Cornelius, N.C., resident is genuinely excited about having such a
monumental event at his home track.

"I think it's awesome the NHRA is going to run four-wide," said
Herbert. "They've been doing the same thing for a long time and this is
really different. I'm glad we're getting the chance to do it right here in
Charlotte at the best drag strip in the whole world."

Defending NHRA Carolinas Nationals Top Fuel champion Cory
McClenathan wasn't able to participate in the four-wide exhibition in
September because he was too busy winning the event, but the NHRA veteran is
looking forward to the adrenaline rush he's sure to feel in March.

"We knew when Bruton built zMAX Dragway this was going to happen,"
McClenathan said. "I think a lot of people were thinking we would qualify
four-wide and then race a normal 16-car deal on Sunday. It was a little bit
of surprise to me to how they're going to do the race on Sunday and I think
for fans, it's going to be unreal. For drivers, I think the biggest thing is
the staging process is going to be a little bit tough. These cars are
temperamental and it's going to be interesting to see how the staging
process is going to be handled.

"The qualifying is going to be pretty crazy and interesting. We're
there to put a show on and obviously everybody wants to win the race. If I
could be in the final round and be the first one to cross the finish
line-that would be more than cool. I think the roar of three other
dragsters, when you're in your own car, is going to be a real rush."

While fans got a taste of four-wide drag racing from the nitro ranks
in September, the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals will be the first opportunity for
Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycles to run four-wide down the Bellagio of
drag strips.

Jeg Coughlin Jr. drove his Pro Stock machine through the ribbon
during the official ribbon cutting ceremony at zMAX Dragway in August 2008.
The five-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion was
overjoyed with the news of Pro Stocks going four-wide in March.

"I am excited to run four lanes wide," Coughlin said. "It will
create a lot of excitement for the fans at zMAX Dragway. I want to applaud
NHRA and its competition department for making Bruton Smith's vision a
reality.

"When I first saw the renderings of the facility and took a tour
when it was under construction, it was fun to imagine four cars running
side-by-side. Now we will get to see it and live it. I am sure it will be
some of the most exciting drag racing we have ever experienced. This is
exactly why Bruton built zMAX Dragway."

The Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway promises to be a spectacle
unlike any other in the sport of drag racing, and it will be interesting to
see the fans' reaction," said Line, 2006 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing
Series Pro Stock champion.

"It should be particularly exciting in Pro Stock, where our races
are often decided by ten-thousandths of a second. One of the biggest
challenges for the drivers will be simply being able to see the staging
bulbs for all four cars, especially if you're in the lane where you have to
look around the hood scoop. Lane choice also promises to be more important
than ever, especially considering we'll only get one run in each lane during
qualifying."

Three-time NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Pro Stock champion
and Summit Racing teammate Anderson recognizes some of the challenges, but
is working to alleviate some of those issues and is hoping to put his name
in the record books in March.

"There's the matter of timing and scoring, and since the
announcement, I've been in contact with the folks over at CompuLink (who are
in charge of the NHRA's timing and scoring), providing whatever input I can
to help them design a viable solution," said Concord, N.C., resident
Anderson.

"They not only have to find a way to effectively stage four cars,
but also have to determine the finishing order at the top end with
competitors often separated by just a few thousandths of a second.

"However, knowing Bruton Smith and his staff, I'm confident they'll
find a way to get it done. I'm certainly going in with an open mind and am
ready to accept the challenge. After all, everyone will be gunning to be
the first to win a four-wide competition, and we're going to do whatever we
can to make sure it's one of our Summit Racing Pontiacs."

Pro Stock Motorcycles are generally the tightest of all professional
categories. The close races place an even greater emphasis in getting off
the line first, which in turn makes red-lighting a frequent occurrence.

Steve Johnson became the first PSM rider to win at zMAX Dragway in
the inaugural NHRA Carolinas Nationals in 2008, and he can't wait to be in
the middle lanes when the motorcycles go four-wide on the concrete
quarter-mile.

"I, for one, am happy that our sport is trying new things and that
the NHRA is a forward-thinking company," said Johnson. "Bruton Smith is
revolutionizing drag racing with his facility in Charlotte. It's no longer
drag racing, it's drags racing!

"We do all we can on the bikes to try and slow down our reaction
times, but it's safe to say you'll probably see the first ever race with
three red lights and one green. I think the NHRA has hit it out of the park
on this one and fans will be the true winners in March. This is going to be
great."

Built in 2008, zMAX Dragway is the only four-lane, all concrete drag
strip in the world. Located across U.S. Highway 29 from Charlotte Motor
Speedway and adjacent to The Dirt Track at Charlotte, zMAX Dragway seats
30,000 spectators, covers 46.5 acres, features two pedestrian tunnels under
the strip and a 34,000-square-foot starting-line tower.

Tickets for the history-making inaugural NHRA Four-Wide Nationals,
March 25-28, are on sale now and can be obtained by calling the Charlotte
Motor Speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS or online at
www.zmaxdragway.com. Convenient interest-free payment plan options and
affordable multi-day ticket packages are available.